Bag filling and weighing system

ABSTRACT

A self-contained weighing and bagging machine which has two bag holding and weighing positions and wherein when one bag is filled to the prescribed weight the machine automatically stops filling that bag and commences to fill the other bag permitting the filled bag to be removed and be replaced with an empty bag.

United States Patent Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented BAG FILLING AND WEIGHING SYSTEM [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 475,405 5/1892 Lombard 561,742 6/1896 Walbourn... 836,185 1 H1906 Froelich v FOREIGN PATENTS 704,710 5/1931 France Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkins on Assistant Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr. Attorney-C. A. Phillips ABSTRACT: A self-contained weighing and bagging machine 4 3 onwlng Figs which has two hag holding and weighing positions and wherein U.S.Cl 177/93 when one bag is filled to the prescribed weight the machine Int. Cl (101g 13/22 automatically stops filling that bag and commences to fill the Field of Search 177/64-69, other bug permitting the filled bag to be removed and be 93, 95, 97, 98 replaced with an empty bag.

I04 I I I l I I I I 86 1 I I 1 I 1 I I 22 l I I I02 78" 4s BAG FILLING AND'WEIGHING SYSTEM This application is a continuation in part of copending application entitled "Fluent Material Weighing and Bagging System, Ser. No. 525,682 filed Feb. 7, 1966.

Thisinvention relates to devices and systems for filling, weighingvand bagging fluent materials such as grain and particularly to .a system-of this category forfilling, accurately weighing, and bagging fluent material without interruption of the flow of fluent material into bags.

The weighing and bagging of grain in the typical small: to medium size grain mill is carries on-muchpthe sameway today as it was 30 yearsago, by an operator placing a grain bag on a v.platform scales, coupling the top of thebag to. a grain discharge chute, opening afeed valve to cause grain to flow into the bag and finally shutting the valve when the scales in; dicate a balance at the prescribed weight. This method. has

I two principle disadvantages. One, it is slow and two, it is inaccurate because of the difficulty of shutting off feed at exactly the right instant. When the operator fails to do this he must thereafter add or remove feed by handuntil the correct weight is achieved. ln addition, there are grain mixtureswhich tend to packwhen flow is interrupted during the changing of bags or other downitime of the bagging and weighing process and as a result they clog the feed hopper.

While a number of prior systems have been proposed which approach a solution to the foregoing problems, as for example noted by-an examination of them, insome instances fairly complex and'insensitive mechanisms are involved, which fail to provide accurate weighing. and in several instances the systems are too expensive for the typical, medium size grain mill.=

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the dif- "ficulties and disadvantages of the prior art and -to provide .a bag filling, and-weighing system whichis economical for roperationby small and medium-size feed distributors and -producers.

In accordance with and a particular feature of this invention a single platform scale movementsof the type having balancing arm which reach a horizontal position when applied weight reaches a preset value is employed for the sequential weighing of bagged material. In accordance with another feature of the invention means are provided for supporting the tops of bags to be filled above thesingle platform scales without the bottoms of the bags resting on the scale platform. A hopper is positioned above the bags having one inlet and two outlets, one outlet, being positioned to allow grain to flow to the bag positioned over one platform scales and the other outlet being positioned to allow grain to flow into the other bag. As another particular feature of the invention the outlets do not actually connect toor touch the bags, which enhances accuracy. A movable discharge gate or valve is incorporated inthe hopper and positioned to permit flow either down through one outlet or the other With grain flow into one bag the flow continues until a predetermined weightis reached and then the arm balance of the platform scales holding the bag moves to a balanced position where it engages a plunger-type electrical switch positioned on a frame member. When this occurs the switch energizes electrohydraulic means for shifting the position of the discharge gate to close off flow to the bag being filled and permit flow to the other bag. While the second bag is being filled the first bag is removed and an empty bag inserted in its place. Thus by the time that the second bag is filled, and the movable discharge gate activated in a like manner by a second time, the third bag is ready to be filled and so on. As a further feature of the invention, means are provided for receiving grain at a fairly low level and by means of a drill or other grain transport means, raising it to the top of the feed hopper, thus permittingthe system to accommodate material supplies at highor low levels. By the system of'the invention substantial improvements in speed, accuracy and reduced equipment costs, have been achieved.

Other objects, features and advantages'of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered together with the accompanying drawing in which:v

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1; and A FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the switching and control system of the invention. Referring now to the drawings:

Platform scale 10 is mounted on a supporting carriage 14, the carriage in turn being supported by front rollers 16 and rear rollers 18. Typically, rollers 16 are adapted to swivel to pennit ease of moving carriage 14 from place to place. Grain 'feed assembly -20 is also mounted on and supported by carriage 14 by means of supporting arm 22 pivotably connected to the lower" portion of auger assembly 26 'of grainfeed assembly 20 and by supporting arms 28 and 30 connected to the input chute portion 32 of hopper assembly 34. Hopper as sembly 34 is supported by brace assemblies 36 and 37 and 38 and 39 extending from carriage 14 to discharge chutes 40 and 42, respectively, of hopper assembly 34. In this fashion hopper 44 mounted on the lower end of feed assembly 26 may be raised, and lowered by extending or shortening arm 22 which is adjustable by means of conventional adjustable sleeves 46,

feed assembly. 20 pivoting about supporting arms 28 and 30 in pivot mountings-48 and50; The top of auger assembly 26 connects to input chute portion 32 of hopper assembly 34 by' means of auger output chute 52, the output end of which extends into enlarged input portion 54 of hopper assembly 34. ln this manner clearance is provided in order that output chute may tilt as sleeve46 is adjusted without binding on hopper assembly 34.

Discharge chutes 40 and 42 form the lower portion of 'hopper assembly 34 and provide altemate passageways for grain from hopperassembly 34 to either grain exits 56 and 58, selectively, as controlled by movable gate valve60 positioned within hopper assembly 34 and movable by means of piston 62 (FIG. 3) of cylinder 64, pivoted on fixed support 65 by pin 65a. In this manner selective flow is achieved by either opening the passageway from the top of hopper 34 to discharge chute 40 and closing the passageway to discharge chute 42 or opening the passageway to discharge chute 40. Movable gate valve 60 is rotatably mounted by means of pin ,66 supported by chute assembly 34 and rotates about this pin to open or close this dischargechute responsive to arm linkage connected to end 70 of piston 62..Arm linkage 68 and end 70 of piston 62 are connected by means of pin 72 which permits arm linkage 68 to rotate with respect to end 70 of piston 62.

Plunger or lever type micro switches 74 is mounted on supporting frame 78 of platform scales l0. Switch'74 is positioned with plunger 82 to be closed by engagement with balancing arm 84 when balancing arm 84, pivoted on pivot 85 (not shown) on supporting frame 78, is precisely horizontal, representing weight balance as determined by conventional weight-setting members 86 and 88 on arm 84 and a balancing weight applied to platform scales 10. The internal linkage between the weighing platform 90 of scales l0 and arm 84 is conventional and is not shown.

Bags 101- and 102 to be filled are positioned with their tops above and encircling without contacting smaller exit ends 56 and58 of hopper assembly 34 by means of bag holders 103 and 104. 'Bags 101 and 102 are clamped to conventional bagholders 103 and 104, respectively by conventional means, not shown. Bag holders 103 and 104 are supported by supports 105 and 106 on platform 90,.and attached thereto by conventional means, not shown. ln this fashion the bags are suspended without the bottoms of the bags normally touching or resting on anything and thus the bags are filled without wrinkles and without other handling. The weight of bag holders 103 and 104 is compensated for in the calibration of the scales. The bag holders are adjustable in height by conventional means as by means of pin 108 on sleeve supported portion 110 of each of supports 105 and 106 to accommodate various size bags.

In operation bags 101 and 102 are affixed to bag holders 103 and 104 and carriage l4 moved to a position wherein grain can be fed to hopper 44. Initially, with movable gate 60 in the position shown in FIG. 1, grain from hopper 44 is drawn upward by auger 112 of auger assembly 26, driven by belt drive motor assembly 114, and grain is fed into hopper assembly 34 and through discharge chute 40 to bag 101. This will continue until arm 84 of platform scales rotates to a horizontalposition, a point of balance for the chosen weight, whereupon plunger 82 of plunger switch 74 will be depressed and close switch 74. Power from terminals 115 will then be supplied through normally closed pedal switch 116, through normally closed limit switch 118 with linkage 68 in position opposite to that shown to coil 120 of relay 122 which closes holding contacts 124 to hold on" relay 122 after switch 118 has been opened. One of the contacts 124 connects to coil 120 and the other connects to switch 116. Power is also supplied through normally closed contacts 126 of relay 128 to coil 130 of four-way electrohydraulic valve 132 which then operates air cylinder 64 to move arm linkage 68 and gate valve 60 to the position shown. This action causes limit switch 135 to close and limit switch 118 to open. This causes coil 134 of form scales as shown and be normally open or normally closed depending upon the logic required by the type of solenoid or solenoids employed to achieve operation of movable gate valve 60 as described above.

While the single specific embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the same is merely illustrative of the inventive concept which may be embodied in other forms falling within the scope of the aprelay 128 to be energized to close holding contacts 137 and open contacts 126. At this point both relays 122 are energized and their contacts are in a position opposite to that shown. In this posture discharge gate 60 is moved from a position covering discharge chute 40 to a position covering discharge chute 42. This, of course, occurs instantly and switches material flow from bag 101 to bag 102, the action being initiated by virtue of bag 101 being filled to the chosen weight. Bag 101 is then removed and an empty bag is installed in its place. During the removal of bag 101 normally closed foot pedal switch 116 is I operated open to prevent accidental operation of the circuit, and premature actuation of valve 60. Opening pedal switch 116 causes both relay coils 120 and 134 to be deenergized. When bag 101 is removed, scales l0 unbalanced to open switch 74 which remains open until switch 74 is closed again.

When the weight of material in bag 102 reaches the predetermined weight for cutoff, switch 74 is again operated and the following sequence occurs. Power is supplied through switch 74, switch 116, now closed switch 135 to coil 134 and through contacts 138 of relay 122 to coil 136 of valve 132. The result is that instantly valve 132 causes air cylinder 64 to operate linkage 68 back to the opposite position and relay 128 is operated on" to prevent coil 130 of valve 132 to be operated which would prematurely reverse valve 60. The circuit through switch 135 opens at the completion of this action holding contact 137 closed and coil 134 on and holds contact 126 open.

The process will continue in this fashion allowing flow of material into the bags without interruption. Extremely precise weights can be achieved in this manner making it unnecessary for subsequent adding to or removal of material from bags.

Air cylinder 64 is supplied through air lines 140 and 142 by four way hydraulic valve 132 which, depending upon whether coil 130 or 136 is energized, air is supplied from air inlet 144 to line 140 or 142 to cause piston 62 to be operated inward or outward. Air exhaust 146 is connected by four-way valve 132 to line 140 or 142, being connected to the one of these lines which is not energized with air pressure from air inlet 144.

While movable gate valve 60 as shown, is operated by electrohydraulic cylinder 64, an electrical magnetic solenoid having a long throw may be employed instead. in such case the solenoid would be spring loaded to one position and electrically operated to the other position or separate solenoids may be employed to move gate valve 60 to its respective positions. Still other arrangements using polarized solenoid mechanisms may also be employed to perform the same function. In any of these configuration switches would be attached to the platpended claims.

We claim:

1. A bag filling and weighing system comprising:

A. A single platform scale supported by supporting means and comprising:

1. a supporting frame,

2. a weighing platform for supporting the weight of a bag being filled and weighed,

3. a weight-balancing arm connected in a (level) lever arm relation with said weighing platform and said supporting frame and adapted to assume a balanced position when said bag has been filled'to a predetermined weight and displaced from said balanced position when said bag is filled to less than a predetermined weight, and

4. first and second supporting means, each supported by said weighing. platform for supporting a bag and wherein the top of a said bag is held open;

B. A hopper directly supported by said supporting frame and having an upper input chute and first and second lower discharge chutes supported above and providing flow to bags supported by said bag supporting means;

C. A movable discharge gate positioned within to a normally open contact of said first relay and through the normally closed contacts of said second relay to provide said first electrical output;

F. A second electrical circuit from the output of said normally open switch through said second normally closed switch to said coil of said second relay and to a normally open contact of said second relay and through said normally closed contacts of said first relay to provide said second electrical output; and

G. A third electrical circuit from the output of said normally open switch to the otherwise unconnected contact of said normally open contacts of said first and second relays.

2. The bag-filling and weighing system set forth in claim 1 wherein said electrical switching means comprises:

A. A source of electrical power;

B. A normally open electrical switch in engagement with said weight-balancing arm and connected to said power source for providing an electrical output when said balancing arm reaches a balanced position;

C. First and second relays, each having a relay coil, a set of normally open contacts and a set of normally closed contacts;

D. First and second normally closed switches positioned to be alternately opened when engaged by said control means as said moveable discharge gate is moved from a said first to a said second position;

E. A first electrical circuit coupling an output of said normally open switch through said first normally closed switch to said coil of said first relay and said hopper and being adapted to close said first discharge chute and open said second discharge chute when in a first position and to open said second discharge chute and to close said first discharge chute when in asecond position;

D. Electrical switching means associated with'said platform scales and responsive to said weight-balancing arm of said platform scales for producing, alternately, first and second electrical outputs as said arm is periodically operated to a balanced position; and

E. Control means connected to said movable discharge gate and responsive to said first electrical output for moving said movable discharge gate from said first position to said second position and responsive to said second electrical output for moving said movable gate from said second position to said first position.

3. The system set forth in claim 2 further comprising fluent material receiving means comprising a second hopper positioned below said first named hopper and material transport means for lifting material from said second hopper to said 

1. A bag filling and weighing system comprising: A. A single platform scale supported by supporting means and comprising:
 1. a supporting frame,
 2. a weighing platform for supporting the weight of a bag being filled and weighed,
 3. a weight-balancing arm connected in a lever arm relation with said weighing platform and said supporting frame and adapted to assume a balanced position when said bag has been filled to a predetermined weight and displaced from said balanced position when said bag is filled to less than a predetermined weight, and
 4. first and second supporting means, each supported by said weighing platform for supporting a bag and wherein the top of a said bag is held open; B. A hopper directly supported by said supporting frame and having an upper input chute and first and second lower discharge chutes supported above and providing flow to bags supported by said bag supporting means; C. A movable discharge gate positioned within to a normally open contact of said first relay and through the normally closed contacts of said second relay to provide said first electrical output; F. A second electrical circuit from the output of said normally open switch through said second normally closed switch to said coil of said second relay and to a normally open contact of said second relay and through said normally closed contacts of said first relay to provide said second electrical output; and G. A third electrical circuit from the output of said normally open switch to the otherwise unconnected contact of said normally open contacts of said first and second relays.
 2. a weighing platform for supporting the weight of a bag being filled and weighed,
 2. The bag-filling and weighinG system set forth in claim 1 wherein said electrical switching means comprises: A. A source of electrical power; B. A normally open electrical switch in engagement with said weight-balancing arm and connected to said power source for providing an electrical output when said balancing arm reaches a balanced position; C. First and second relays, each having a relay coil, a set of normally open contacts and a set of normally closed contacts; D. First and second normally closed switches positioned to be alternately opened when engaged by said control means as said moveable discharge gate is moved from a said first to a said second position; E. A first electrical circuit coupling an output of said normally open switch through said first normally closed switch to said coil of said first relay and said hopper and being adapted to close said first discharge chute and open said second discharge chute when in a first position and to open said second discharge chute and to close said first discharge chute when in a second position; D. Electrical switching means associated with said platform scales and responsive to said weight-balancing arm of said platform scales for producing, alternately, first and second electrical outputs as said arm is periodically operated to a balanced position; and E. Control means connected to said movable discharge gate and responsive to said first electrical output for moving said movable discharge gate from said first position to said second position and responsive to said second electrical output for moving said movable gate from said second position to said first position.
 3. The system set forth in claim 2 further comprising fluent material receiving means comprising a second hopper positioned below said first named hopper and material transport means for lifting material from said second hopper to said first-named hopper.
 3. a weight-balancing arm connected in a lever arm relation with said weighing platform and said supporting frame and adapted to assume a balanced position when said bag has been filled to a predetermined weight and displaced from said balanced position when said bag is filled to less than a predetermined weight, and
 4. first and second supporting means, each supported by said weighing platform for supporting a bag and wherein the top of a said bag is held open; B. A hopper directly supported by said supporting frame and having an upper input chute and first and second lower discharge chutes supported above and providing flow to bags supported by said bag supporting means; C. A movable discharge gate positioned within to a normally open contact of said first relay and through the normally closed contacts of said second relay to provide said first electrical output; F. A second electrical circuit from the output of said normally open switch through said second normally closed switch to said coil of said second relay and to a normally open contact of said second relay and through said normally closed contacts of said first relay to provide said second electrical output; and G. A third electrical circuit from the output of said normally open switch to the otherwise unconnected contact of said normally open contacts of said first and second relays.
 4. The bag filling and weighing system set forth in claim 2 further comprising a normally closed pedal switch in series with said normally open electrical switch of said electrical switching means. 